INSIDE OUT 2 - WHO’S IN CHARGE? -- Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley, where her Emotions Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Fear (voice of Tony Hale), Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira) must make room for new Emotions, including Envy (voice of Ayo Edebiri), Anxiety (voice of Maya Hawke) and Embarrassment (voice of Paul Walter Hauser). Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen, “Inside Out 2” releases only in theaters June 14, 2024. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Courtney Howard // Film Critic
INSIDE OUT 2
Rated PG, 1 hour and 36 minutes
Directed by: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Lilimar, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kensington Tallman, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Grace Lu, Yong Yea
Back in 2015, INSIDE OUT made audiences cry profusely seeing an adolescence in transition. It was gut-wrenching. Its subsequent sequel, the imaginatively titled INSIDE OUT 2, however, doesn’t go nearly as hard in that respect– and that sorta feels like a missed opportunity. In this next chapter, the tween experiencing the growing pains of girlhood is now two years older and sorting through a bunch of new emotions, which means a bunch of new celebrity voices enter the fray. A perfect blend of humor and heart, it tells the truth of what it is to be human in all its beautiful, resonant complexities.
Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman) thought her move from Minnesota to San Francisco when she was 11 years old was going to be the toughest thing she’d ever have go through. She was wrong. Now, at 13, she’s forced to navigate new territory: puberty. During a three day hockey camp with her besties Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace (Grace Lu), Riley learns that they’re not going to be attending the same high school. Desperate to not only impress the coach of her new school’s team (Yvette Nicole Brown), but also its super cool varsity captain Valentina (Lilimar), Riley’s insides fall into complete disarray.
After maintaining Riley’s emotions at maximum efficiency, Joy (Amy Poehler), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Fear (Tony Hale), Anger (Lewis Black) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) have the peaceful sanctity of their headquarters disrupted for a half-completed remodel. Included in these changes is a larger, more sensitive console. Enter cheshire-cat-grinning, high-strung Anxiety (Maya Hawke), wide-eyed Envy (Ayo Edebiri), bored slouch Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and perpetually shy Embarassment (Paul Walter Hauser), who all know exactly what buttons to push to handle Riley’s rapidly-changing moods. Naturally Joy gets jealous, locking her and Anxiety in a battle for dominance. In a move to overtake Riley’s beliefs and behaviors, Anxiety banishes the original crew. Joy formulates a plan to restore Riley’s sense of self, sending them on a sojourn through the complex mind of a teenager.
Director Kelsey Mann and co-writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein deliver enlightened, strong sentiments on memories – both good and bad – forming every aspect of the human condition, compounding those messages found in the film’s predecessor. Betrayal, disappointment, loss of control and sense of self are smart, resounding themes. While it’s fairly obvious that Joy and Anxiety will inherently have to learn to get along to help their human charge (an arc previously explored between Joy and Sadness), the journey of healing feels innovatively constructed, wholly earned and heartening.
The filmmakers also trade on the original’s world-building aspects in just the right amount. The storyline holds a comforting familiarity and the characters remain true to themselves (a feat given other long gestating sequels can’t manage that). They use the opportunity to branch out, examining different psychological concepts as set compelling pieces. Their representation of things like sarcasm and streams of consciousness hold a lot of wit and endearing charm to them. Even the dank atmosphere and cavernous sound (gifted by sound designer extraordinaire Ren Kylce) of the back of Riley’s mind holds a powerful pull.
That said, as a slight detriment to the narrative, this sequel is much lighter in tone. Compared to the first film, there’s nothing nearly as harrowing as Riley’s Islands of Personality crumbling or Bing Bong dying. This lessened emotional tether noticeably affects our connection with the material. Though it’s hilarious to see callbacks brilliantly utilized, the filmmakers lean more into the overall zany lunacy of the shenanigans, introducing characters like the cartoony Boofy (Ron Funches) and his talking pouch Pouchy (James Austin Johnson), video game character Lance Slashblade (Yong Yea) and Deep Dark Secret (Steve Purcell) (stay put for the end credits coda!).
From the new character designs to their the refurbished environments, the aesthetics are immersive, exciting and dazzling. Action set pieces look and feel tactile and propulsive. Andrea Datzman’s score resplendently builds on Michael Giacchino’s sonically poignancy. Performances from the newcomers in the voice cast serve to enchant, specifically Hawke, whose open-hearted vulnerability and strength are on full display.
Though it’s got big shoes to fill and despite not quite managing to make them fit as comfortably, INSIDE OUT 2 is a tale worth telling. Adults and kids will see themselves in these universal struggles on the life-long journey towards self-acceptance.
Grade: B
INSIDE OUT 2 opens in theaters on June 14.
